Driving mechanism



Ferl. 13, 1994. R, WASEIGE 1,949,956

DRIVING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1934. R, WASEIGE 1,946,956

DRIVING MEClgANISM Filed Feb. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ja/igt? ATTORNEY '40 construed as a denition of the limits of the intive of the number of cylinders, are transmitted Petenfed Feb. 13, 1934 i f 1,946,956

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIVING MECHANISM Charles Raymond Waseige, Rueil, France, as-

signor to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 14, 1931, Serial No. 515,868, and in France February 25, 1930 Claims. (Cl. 'Z4- 34) This invention relates to driving mechanisms ing another embodiment of the shock absorbing and particuliarly to means for driving propellers, device; although the invention is not conflnedints nov- Fig. 7 is a section through 7-7 of Fig. 6; elty or utility to such application. t Fig. 8 is a section through 8-8 oi Fig. 7; l An object of the invention is to provide a Figs. 9 and 10 show schematicallyr another emo0 driving mechanism having novel means for combodiment of the invention; and pensating for torque variations produced in the Figs. 11 and 12 show schematically still another prime mover such as, for example, a multi-'cylinembodiment of the invention; der engine. Referring to the drawings, the invention is lo Afurther object of the invention is to provide a shown embodied in a propeller driving mecha.- ,s

novel combination of shock absorbing and speed nism employing a gear reduction mechanism to reducing mechanisms for drivably connecting drivably connect the prime mover with the driven the driving member, such as an internal combusprpeller, this gear mechanism being essentially tion engine, with the driven member, such as a the same as that shown in Reissue Patent No. l5 propeller. 17,266 granted to me on April 9, 1929. As repro- 70 A further object of the invention is to provide duced in the accompanying drawings, SllCh meeha driving mechanism of the foregoing character anism comprises a Cembinaiien ring and bevel in which the shock absorbing members possess a gear 2 adapted i0 be driven flOm the DOWei Shaft degree of flexibility both in the angular and axial 0f the Prime mOVeI. (not ShOWn) a Second reladirections. tively stationary combination ring and bevel gear 5 Another object of the invention is to provide 3 (0r sun wheel as it is termed in the aforesaid means for permitting relative angular variationsA leiSSlle patent) in Cembinatien With a plurality between the component parts of the shock ab- 0f Planetary bevel DiniOnS 4 rotatably Supported sorbing mechanism in combination with means by the propeller Shaft and meshing With both Sun for limiting and checking such variations. Wheels 2 and 3. the piniOnS being keyed t0 the o Another object of the invention is to provide propeller shaft as shown so as to constitute a posia device for the purpose intended whih shall be tive drive therefor as they are rotated about their essaient, practical, rename in its operation, eem- Own axes and also about the axis 0f the propact in assembly, and capable of giving dependpeller shaft in response to actuation of sun wheel 2 able service with but little attention on the part from the Prime mover 85 of the operator. In mechanism heretofore employing this con- Other objects and advantages te be derived struction, it has been customary to secure the ring from the use of the invention will become more gear 3 substantially rigidly to the housing so as to apparent on inspection of the following descrip- Secure POStVe fetatioll ofthe driving PDiOnS 4 sa non, with reference to the accompanying drawane hence a D Ositlve drlve t0 the propeller 0r other ings wherein several embodiments of the invenultimately driven membel- AS a result. in Slleh tion are illustrated It is to be expressly under.. construction, the vibrations which occur in the stood, however, that said drawings are for the Pl'me-m0ve1 Particularly Where the Prime mover 'purpose of illustration only and are not to be 1s an internal combust1on engine, and irrespecvention, reference being had to the appended t0 an Parts Connecting the crank Shaft t0 the claims for this purpose, propeller or other driven member, which vibra- In the drawings: tions are of course highly objectionable. particu- Fig. 1 is a half-section view through a device larly Where gearing iS employed. embodying the invention; Thus, referring to the drawings, and'particu- Fig. 2 shows another embodiment of the inlarly to Figs. 1 t0 3, inclusive. it Will be Seen that vention, and is a section view through 2-2 of gear 4 iS adapted t0 yield relatively t0 the hous- Fig, 3; ing 5 by virtue of the provision of a novel torque Fig. 3 is a part front view, the cover being reaction and shock absorbing mechanism, which, taken 01T; as shown, takes the form of a multi-disc clutch 105 Fig. 4 is a part view similar to Fig. 1, but of a made of an inner set of discs 7 connected to gear third embodiment of the invention and is a sec- 3 by a suitable splined construction, the outer tional view through 4 4 of Fig. 5; set of discs 6 being connected to the housing 5 by Fig. 5 is a section through 5-5 of Fig. 4; means of similar splines. `Friction discs 8 are Fig. 6 is apart view similar to Fig. 1, but showpreferably secured to these outer discs 6. All no these discs are pressed together against the housing 5 by means of springs 9. With this arrangement gear 3 may turn in the housing 5 when the torque reaction taken by the gear 3 is greater than its clutch capacity. Its displacement is then a series of angular slides, always in the same direction.

In the embodiment shown, in Figs. 2 and 3, the shock absorber device is again placed between gear 3 and housing 5. A driving or shock imparting member 10 is splined to gear 3 and has a plurality of slots 11 at its periphery, corresponding to similar slots formed in the driven, or shock absorbing member 12 which is integral with the housing. In these slots are located coiled springs 13 connecting elastically the members 10 and 12, and allowing limited oscillation of the former. To avoid vibrations these oscillations are limited and checked, by the provision of novel means taking the form of clutch discs 14 and springs 15 pressing member 10 against member 12.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 connection of gear 3 to the housing is made by means of an elastic material (rubber for example) which fills up completely the space left between the two slotted members 19 and 18 so that its dimensions or volume cannot increase, thereby allowing only relativelyslight angular oscillations. Member 19 is connected to gear 3 by splines 2O and member 18 is in turn. splined to the housing 5. Each of these members 18 and 19 is preferably provided with a ange so as to have the rubber tighten from all sides and prevent oil from iilling up the housing 5. The rubber allowing but little oscillation of gear 3 relatively to housing 5, a plate 21, made of suitable metal such as bronze for example, is placed between member 19 and housing 5 to facilitate sliding movement of the latter.

Another means to make the elastic connection between gear 3 and housing 5 is shown in Figs. 6 to 8. In the embodiment there shown, a driving or shock imparting member 22 splined on gear 3 is connected to a driven, or shock absorbing member 23 by means of long thin teeth 24 at its periphery, member 23 being preferably secured to housing 5 and also provided with teeth 24 made to have a certain axial iiexibility which iiexibility is used to press friction discs 26 against member 22, axial strength being added by providing bolts 27 going through elongated holes of teeth 25. It is evident that again in this construction, gear 3 can oscillate elastically in housing 5 and that its oscillations are checked. 0f course, teeth giving the circumferential iiexibility could be made to give the axial exibility also.

The elastic coupling may also be made as shown in Figs. 9 to 12 wherein iiat springs 30 are provided to connect gear 3 to a member 31 which is secured to the housing. In Fig. 10 at springs connect the driving gear 32 to a plate 33 secured so as to rotate with the engine shaft. 'I'he slots retaining these flat springs have chambers 34 to allow an elastic displacement of the springs.

While several embodiments have been illustrated, it is to be understood that the inventiony is not limited thereto, but may be applied to any kind of gearing mechanism, for example, to spur gear mechanism; and that other changes, which will now appear evident to those skilled in the art, may be made in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the scope of the invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a deinition of the limits of the invention.

'What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a member to be driven, a shaft for driving said driven member, a gear drivably connected to said shaft, traction means for said gear including a plurality oi' yielding torque absorbing clutch units actuated by said gear, a series of bolts disposed in parallelism and corresponding in number to the number of said clutch units, each of said bolts extending through the corresponding clutch unit, and means on each of said bolts for adjusting the frictional pressure thereon.

2. In combination with a member to be driven and power driving means therefor, a gear inter-- posed between said power means and said driven member, a second gear meshing with said ilrst named gear and having a plurality of recesses along its periphery, a plurality of yresilient members in the form of springs wound helically about parallel center lines, all of which are normal to the common plane of said recesses, said springs acting to absorb the torque generated in said power means and to return the same to said gears and driven member, and means for exerting an axial pressure tending to hold said resilient members in frictional driven association with said power means, said last named means comprising a second group of resilient members and means for mounting said resilient members so as to cause them to exert their pressure against the lateral surfaces of said second named gear.

3. In combination with a member to be driven and power driving means therefor, a gear interposed between said power means and driven member, a second gear meshing with said Aiirst named gear and having a plurality of recesses along its periphery, a plurality of resilient members in the form of springs wound helically about parallel center lines, al1 of which are normal to the common plane of said recesses, said springs acting to absorb the torque generated in said power means, and to return the same to said gears and driven member, a member surrounding said second named gear and provided with recesses corresponding to the recesses in said second named gear and adapted to register with said resilient members, and means for exerting an axial pressure tending to hold said second named gear and surounding member in torque transmitting relala ion.

4. In combination with a member to be driven and power driving means therefor, a gear interposed between said power means and driven member, a second gear meshing with said first named gear and having a plurality of recesses along its periphery, a plurality of resilient membersin the form of springs wound helically about parallel center lines, all of which are normal to the common plane of said recesses', said springs acting to absorb the torque generated in said power means, and to returnthe same to said gears and driven member, said means comprising a member surrounding said second named gear and provided with recesses corresponding to the recesses in said second named gear and adapted to register with said resilient members, and means for exerting an axial pressure tending to hold said second named gear and surrounding member in torque transmittingrelation, said last named means comprising a plurality of friction surfaces interposed between the lateral surfaces of said second named gear and surrounding member.

5. In combination with a. member to be driven and power driving means therefor, a gear interposed between said power means and driven member, a second gear meshing with said first named gear and having a plurality oi recesses along its periphery, a plurality of resilient members in the form o! springs wound helicallyabout parallel center lines, all of which are normal to the common plane of said recesses, said springs acting to absorb the torque generated in said power means.v and to return the same to said gears and-driven member, said means comprising a member surrounding said second named gear and provided with recesses corresponding to the recesses in said second named gear and adapted to register with said resilient members, and means for exerting an axial pressure tending to hold said second named gear and surrounding member in torque transmitting 

